§ 52. Mr. Oramasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will seek to convene in London a round-table conference as representative as possible of public opinion in Aden with a view to ending the state of emergency there and to expediting progress with the questions of the franchise and constitution.
§ 54. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will now make an announcement about extensions of the franchise in the Colony of Aden and about a date for the holding of the general elections.
§ Mr. SandysThe ending of the state of emergency is a matter for the Federal Government.
The question of franchise is a matter for the Aden Legislature to whom I understand proposals will shortly be submitted by the Aden Government. I hope before long to hold in London the constitutional talks which had to be postponed in December due to the bomb incident.
As regards the general elections, I would refer the Hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on 15th January.